While Newt Gingrich, Karl Rove, traditional conservatives, establishment conservatives and assorted hangers-on duke it out over the emerging identity of the Republican Party, the tea party wants to make one thing very clear.

The questionable depiction of Karl Rove in a “Nazi” uniform that was included n a recent e-mail was a doctored fake done up in sepia tones, and a mistake.

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“In an email sent under the banner of Tea Party Patriots, a manufactured image of Karl Rove was added to the email which Tea Party Patriots did not know about or approve,” says Jenny Beth Martin, co-founder of the umbrella organization, which represents 3,200 local groups.

“This image, which was added by an outside vendor, Active Engagement, was inappropriate, wrong and we have ordered them to immediately cease further use of the image,” she adds.

That factoid was left out of much of the press coverage on the kerfuffle, which instead concentrated instead on yet another schism among Republicans scrambling to establish both standard bearer and mission statement.

Mrs. Martin’s apology to Mr. Rove, which he accepted, at least got some got press. The editorial gaffe did not.

“We apologize to Mr. Rove. While we may have strong disagreements with him on the future of conservatism, we want to be clear this imagery is absolutely unacceptable and are working to ensure this type of mistake doesn’t happen again,” she adds.